Vern Fleming is among the players born on Feb. 4.
With over 5,000 players in NBA history, at least one player was born on every day of the calendar year – including three leap day ballers. Our day-by-day breakdown of the players born on each day of the year continues.
Below are the most notable NBA players born on Feb. 4
Neil Johnston (1929)
This man affectionately known as “Gabby” played eight seasons and carved out a Hall-of-Fame career. Amazingly, the big man played baseball for the Philadelphia Phillies directly out of college but tried out for the Philadelphia Warriors of the NBA after some struggles in the minor leagues.
The struggles stopped when he switched sports, as he made an All-Star appearance in six of his first seven seasons in the NBA. Johnston led the league in scoring three straight years, starting his second season. He earned First-Team All-NBA in each of those campaigns. He also led the league in rebounding (15.1 rebounds) in 1955, which followed up a championship run with the Warriors in 1956. Unfortunately, A knee injury shortened Johnston’s career, retiring in 1959 at the age of 29. That incredible six-year run earned Johnson a Hall-of-Fame induction in 1990.
Vern Fleming (1962)
Vern was the 18th pick in the 1984 NBA Draft by the Indiana Pacers. He spent 11 of his 12 NBA seasons in Indy, establishing himself as one of the best point guards immediately after being drafted. Fleming was the Pacers’ starting point guard through his first seven seasons, averaging 13.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 1.3 steals during that span. He also finished Top 20 in assists in four of those. Fleming spent one season with the New Jersey Nets in 1996 before officially retiring in 1997.
Want to see every NBA player born on February 4? Here is the rest of the list in chronological order:
- Gerry Calabrese (February 4, 1925)
- Jim Loscutoff (February 4, 1930)
- Guy Manning (February 4, 1944)
- Lee Winfield (February 4, 1947)
- Jo Jo English (February 4, 1970)
- Jason Kopono (February 4, 1981)
- Orien Greene (February 4, 1982)
- Dajuan Wagner (February 4, 1983)
- Lavoy Allen (February 4, 1989)
- Ivan Rabb (February 4, 1997)
- Malik Monk (February 4, 1998)
